Improvement in papeteries and writing-cases



1:. Humor.

PAPETERIES AND WRITING-CASE. No. 193,340. Patented July 24, 1877.

NFETERS, PHOTD-LXTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL LOTHROP, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN PAPETERIES AND WRITING-CASES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 193,340, dated July 24, 1877 application filed March 27, 1877. i

' of this specification.

My invention relates to a novel and improved construction of a combined papeterie and writing case or desk, the construction permitting the conversion of the same from a closed box, having ends which are parallelograms, into a writing-desk, with a. bed or table having a continuous incline, and an area of nearly double the area or size of the box, and still affording room for holding the usual stationery or writing material.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention open and ready for use;

Fig. 2, a vertical section of the same Fig. 3, a central section, the box being closed; Fig. 4, a longitudinal section through the ink-box and pen and pencil tray, and Fig. 5 a crosssection of the removable tray detached.

A is the box; B, its lid or cover, attached so as to swing down and rest upon any ordi- -nary table, and thus form a portion of the inclined desk. The sides 0 d of the box are quadrangular in form, and do not of themselves directly contribute to .the inclination of the desk, and therefore are not, as is customary, cut at an incline into two parts for such purpose, but are left intact.

An inside lid or cover, E, which, when lying flat, fills the interior area of the box, has a joint or hinge at f, whereby its smaller part 9 becomes a flap, so that when such flap is bent down to about a vertical position its edge may rest in a groove, h, in the top of a partition, 11, and thus cause the remaining part 70 of this lid to incline, so as to form a continuous incline with the inclined open lid or cover B, the two lids thus giving a large surface most suitable and convenient for writing purposes. This raised position of the lid E also uncovers and leaves readily accessible for use the inkstand, which may occupy the cavity 1 provided for it, and also the pencil and pen tray m, the latter resting upon supports n it, having their ends both rounded at the top side, so that the tray may be pushed down and tilted at either end that it may easily be liftedout to deposit articles beneath it, or to remove them.

To give firm support to this large writing surface I find it desirable (except in some cases in small-sized and in cheap papeteries) to attach to the inside of the two ends of the box a pivoted support, 0,. one on each end,

and which being turned up, as shown in Figs. 7

l and 2, permit the lid to rest upon and to be upheld by them, the tops of these supports adapting themselves to the line of inclination assumed by the lid. And in order to give a proper support to the lid B, when used for writing, I place under it a loose tray or box, P, having inclined sides adapted also to the proper inclination as assumed by the open lid B. This box P is of a size adapted to be placed within the main box A, its narrower side resting upon the rabbets q formed in the supports 0 o, and its broader side resting upon the bottom of box A, thus leaving the bulk of the space within the large box for the reception of paper and envelopes, and also the box P (of somewhat smaller and shallower proportions) for the reception of smaller sized paper or envelopes. When this tray P is lifted out its contents need not be removed from it. A common screw will suffice for the pivotal support of the pieces 0 o.

The tray may be modified as may be desired as to its capacity for holding different articles, and as to any partitions or compartments therein, so long as it is adapted also for the duty of supporting the opened lid B, and instead ofbeing lifted out of the main box for this purpose, it may be pulled out like a drawer through an opening made for such purpose in the front side of box A.

The abovedescribed article constitutes of itself a complete papeterie and writing-desk, embodying the main essentials of my invention. But I prefer, in many and the better grades, to construct them with a supplemental outer cover, R, hinged, as shown, at or near -it'at',t0p:- and sides; andwithin-this' cover 1 place pockets adapted to=receive"larger sizes the same'is opened, stands upright.

at the frontedge of ither box, ofi the inner lid E,

I ous inclined bed vorv desk.

the bottom of the box, and adapted to cover of paper, envelopes, &c., as shown at s and t, and the flap u of this supplemental'eever'maybe as much higher than the height of the box as will accomm'odategit 't0"h01d-j paperzenou gh for along journey. This outer cover, when I claim- 1 1. In a combined papeterie and writingdesk, the combination, with the lid B, hinged hinged also at the same edge or side, and provided with a flap adapted to support it at an incline, the two lids thus aflording a continu- 2. In combination with the lid E, and, its

; flap, and'jwith means for 'steudyiug zthelilatter w-hem such lid is raised, supports 0 =o,- adapted fan'd support or-re enforce the lid in its inclined position.

.. DANIEL LOTHROP.

Witnesses A. M. LmooLN, L. K. BOWERS. 

